title: Evaluation of quality of life in Turkish patients with head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, our aim was to investigate the effect of factors, such as radiotherapy, the dose of radiotherapy, the region of radiotherapy, the age of the patient, performance, co-morbidity, the stage of the disease and the therapy modalities on the quality of life of patients with head and neck cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two patients who were treated by either chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy, at the Cumhuriyet University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Radiation Oncology, between February 2007 and September 2010, for head and neck cancer were included. The quality of life European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer, Questionnaire module to be used in Quality of Life assessments in Head and Neck Cancer (EORTC QLQ-HandN35) questionnaire was conducted in all patients before starting the radiotherapy, in the middle, at the end, at 1 month and at 6 months after the treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the questionnaires at the end and at the 6th month after the radiotherapy, it was found that the age of the patient, co-morbidity, ECOG performance state, localization, type of treatment, the stage of the disease, the dose and the region of radiotherapy affect some of the symptom scales for quality of life.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Quality of life was affected negatively during and after the radiotherapy. However, in the 6th month after the therapy, a significant improvement was observed in most symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Dr. Abdurrahman Yurtaslan Oncology Research and Training Hospital, Ankara, Turkey E-mail : ebruataseverakkas@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ebru Atasever
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Akkas
authors.forename: Birsen
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yucel
authors.forename: Saadettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kilickap
authors.forename: Emine Elif
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Altuntas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult